Everything You Need to Know about the Detroit Lions

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The NFL continues to soar in popularity, with millions of people tuning in to watch the unpredictable drama play out on the field. From the regular season right through to the showpiece Super Bowl final, the appeal of American football grows and grows. With iconic teams and star names going head-to-head in the battle for NFL glory, the excitement builds with every kick and touchdown.

One of the teams competing, the Detroit Lions, will be hoping for a successful campaign. We will tell you everything you need to know about the NFL franchise based in Michigan.

The 2024/25 NFL Campaign

The Detroit Lions are one of 32 teams that are divided into two conferences, the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFC and AFC each feature four divisions consisting of four teams based on regions. NFC North hosts the Detroit Lions together with the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears, and the Green Bay Packers.

Last time out, the Detroit Lions won the NFC North title and will be aiming to repeat the feat this time around. As an NFL follower, if you are keen to back the Lions for success, there are numerous options via NFL betting lines BetUS to be explored throughout the regular season. Fans must track the form guide and stay updated with team news to make smart and informed decisions from a place of expertise.

The Detroit Lions remain the only franchise operational for the entirety of the Super Bowl era to not appear in the showpiece final, so with the odds stacked against the team achieving the feat, keep an eye on the progress of the team throughout the campaign and check on the Lions reaching the playoffs before backing the side to go all the way.

Players to Watch

There are several skilled and talented players among the ranks of the Detroit Lions. Across Michigan, there is a feeling the Lions could go far, and fans are optimistic under coach Dan Campbell, who has boosted the mentality and built a strong roster.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and was also named first-team All-Pro last year. The 24-year-old finished last season third in the NFL with 1,515 receiving yards.

Jahmyr Gibbs was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of last year's draft and enjoyed a fine debut campaign, was voted to the Pro Bowl, and was named to the All-Rookie Team. The young running back is considered among the top 10 players on the 2024 roster and will be hoping to produce another eye-catching campaign.

Quarterback Jared Goff, meanwhile, has featured in the NFL top 100 list and during the Lions' title win, passed for the second most passing yards in the NFL with 4,575 and also passed 30 touchdowns, the fourth-best tally. Turning 30 this year, Goff is an experienced operator who keeps improving and was rewarded with a new contract.

Detroit Lions Formation

The story of the Detroit Lions dates back almost an entire century to 1928, when the team played as the Spartans in Portsmouth, Ohio. They first joined the National Football League in 1930 and four years later switched to Detroit and named themselves the Lions. In the following year, the team won its first NFL Championship and enjoyed its most successful period in the 1950s, recording further NFL Championship title triumphs in 1952, 1953, and 1957.

Barren periods followed for the historic team, who are embarking on their 95th campaign, though the Lions did reach several playoffs throughout the 1990s.

Overall, the team at the end of the 2023 regular season had a record of 591 victories and 707 losses with 34 tied games. The tally in the playoffs is nine wins and 14 defeats. However, fans of the Lions will be hoping another positive era is on the horizon after securing the top spot in the NFC North last season.

Legendary Player

The Detroit Lions boast an impressive list of legendary and iconic players to have featured for the team down the years, but Barry Sanders is out in front as the number one.

Sanders is considered one of the greatest runners in NFL history and spent a decade appearing for the Detroit Lions. The running back, who led the league in rushing yards on four occasions and rushing touchdowns one season, claimed several crowns during his time in Michigan, winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1989 and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award in 1994.

A hugely talented player, Sanders was co-awarded the NFL Most Valuable Player Award along with Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre after rushing 2,053 yards in the regular season.

In every year of his professional playing career, he was selected to a Pro Bowl and All-Pro team, and the Detroit Lions later retired Sanders's famous No. 20 jersey after he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He has also been ranked as the greatest player to never feature in a Super Bowl final.

The Home of Detroit Lions

The team plays at Ford Field, which is located in Downtown Detroit. The domed stadium opened in 2002 and boasts a capacity of 65,000, which can be expanded to 70,000. The Ford family has controlled ownership of the franchise for the last six decades, and Ford Motor Company purchased the stadium naming rights for $40 million.

As well as being the home of the Lions, the arena also hosts the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League, the Mid-American Conference championship fixture, and several other sporting events throughout the year. Previously, it has also been the setting for basketball games, college hockey, and soccer matches.

The Lions originally played at Tiger Stadium from 1938 to 1939 and 1941 to 1974 before moving to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1975. It was in the 1990s.

Lions Jersey

The Detroit Lions have always played in blue or white jerseys with silver helmets and pants, though there was a brief switch to scarlet and black between 1948 and 1950. This year, the team unveiled a new jersey set featuring a Honolulu blue with white numbers and the classic silver pants. It's an iconic strip instantly recognizable and synonymous with the Lions.

Detroit Traditions

On Thanksgiving every single season, the Detroit Lions play. This fixture dates back to 1934, when then-team owner George A. Richards, who owned WJR in Detroit, a major radio affiliate of the NBC Blue Network, negotiated an agreement that his Thanksgiving game be broadcast live across all NBC network stations. Thanksgiving games have been hosted in Detroit and Dallas annually since 1978, with Detroit in the early time slot.

Summing Up

The Detroit Lions are one of the most historic sides in the entire NFL, and although they don't boast a stellar list of honors, that hasn't diminished the passion and love followers have for the team. From the legendary Barry Sanders to the famous Thanksgiving tradition still played out at Ford Field, the Lions are a famous outfit that will be eager to build on the progress of last year's NFC North title triumph. Be sure to keep track of the team's results and performances before placing wagers so that you can do so from a place of informed authority.

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